Mixed Martial Arts Guidance For Success

Martial arts are great for the body. Regular training strengthens and tones the muscles and adds flexibility. Training in martial arts gives you a full cardio work out. You can expect to greatly increase your strength and stamina and improve your hand eye coordination. Martial arts is a good weight loss program as well because it becomes a complete system in which a healthy diet is part and when combined with the extreme physical activity proper weight loss is assured.

Anyone who trains in Karate, Jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do or any of the arts will gain these benefits. If you have any desire to improve your body and mind at the same time with only one activity, then martial arts is something you ought to seriously consider. You don’t just get in shape physically, but also mentally and spiritually. No gym workout can compare. All across the world, adults are joining dojos and thoroughly enjoying the many benefits of Mixed Martial Arts.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a combination of Karate, Grappling, Wrestling, Tang Soo Do, Boxing, Jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do and more all combined in one. Mixed Martial Arts in its modern form, emerged in 1993 through the Ultimate Fighting Championships and was based on pitting different fighting styles against each other with minimal rules to determine which system would be better in a real, unregulated combat situation.

Physical activity and exercise is not only good for a child’s behavior but it’s also good for their cognitive skills. The summary below is from an article posted on the Psychology Today website and it talks about studies that were done linking physical activity (exercise) to cognitive abilities. If interested, you can see the full article on their website.

Eight Ways Exercise Can Help Your Child Do Better in School

In June of 2014, researchers from the University of Madrid reported that motor skills gained through physical activity may be of greater importance than the cardiorespiratory benefits of aerobic fitness.

The Spanish study,”Independent and Combined Influence of the Components of Physical Fitness on Academic Performance in Youth,” was published in the Journal of Pediatrics.

An August 2014 study from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that children who are more aerobically fit have more fibrous and compact white-matter tracts in the brain than their peers who are less fit.

The study, “Aerobic fitness is Associated with Greater White Matter Integrity in Children,” was published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.

3. Exercise Before School Improves Focus and Reduces ADHD Symptoms

In a September 2014 study, researchers from Michigan State University and University of Vermont found that offering daily before-school, aerobic activities to younger at-risk children could help in reducing the symptoms of ADHD in the classroom and at home.

The study, “A Randomized Trial Examining the Effects of Aerobic Physical Activity on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Young Children,” was published in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.

4. Physical Activity Should Remain Playful For Best Results

In a September 2014 study, researchers at the University of Montreal identified four dimensions of play particularly important for children as part of any physical activity. Play makes exercise seem like fun which makes it more enjoyable.

The study from University of Montreal, “Problematizing “Play-for-Health” Discourses Through Children’s Photo-Elicited Narratives,” was published in the journal Qualitative Health Research.

5. Boys Can Especially Benefit from Regular Physical Activity

A September 2014 study from University of Finland found that physically active school transportation related to academic skills and may be beneficial for the development of reading skills in boys.

The study, “Associations of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Academic Skills – A Follow-Up Study among Primary School Children,” was published in PLOS ONE.

6. Taking “Brain Breaks” During Class Improves Classroom Performance

In September 2014, the abstract of a study,”Brain Breaks: Physical Activity in the Classroom for Elementary School Children,” was published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

Oregon law will mandate that by 2017 elementary schools have 30 minutes a day of physical education classes, in addition to recess periods. A survey conducted by the Healthy Youth Program found that 92 percent of Oregon public elementary schools currently do not meet this standard. The CDC confirms that this is a nationwide deficit.

7. After-School Exercise Groups Can Improve Cognitive Function

In September 2014, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign released findings that children who participate in after-school exercise groups have improved cognitive function.

The study, “Effects of the FITKids Randomized Controlled Trial on Executive Control and Brain Function,” is available from the University of Illinois News Bureau.

8. Personal Training and Lifting Weights Can Improve Memory

In October 2014, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology found that an intense bout of personal training for as little as 20 minutes can enhance episodic memory, also known as long-term memory in healthy young adults.

The study, “A Single Bout of Resistance Exercise can Enhance Episodic Memory Performance, was published in the journal Acta Psychologica.

Conclusion: Exercise Is Key for the Well-Being of Our Children and Future Generations”

In general, sports are a great outlet for kids. Kids need plenty of free time to play around and imagine or create. But kids also need to learn about their bodies and what their bodies are capable of. Mixed martial arts are a great tool for teaching children about their bodies, their minds, and how to deal with others. Kids from Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia area are enjoying the many benefits that are associated with MMA.

Mixed martial arts provides a great workout for young kids. In a structured environment, kids get strength training without the use of weights that can be dangerous for younger children. They get great cardio workouts that help develop their endurance. They will be trained in the basics of Muay Thai Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and they will learn the basics of other martial arts as well. These classes are always held in a supervised environment and the students are never encouraged to try out moves on each other.

MMA students from Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia and various other places, are students of self-discipline and self-control as well as the physical moves involved. It’s important for parents to understand that these are key aspects of studying MMA, more so than any other sports that children can learn. The students are also taught to respect their teachers and to respect each other. In turn, the other members of the MMA community respect the students. While talent can play a role in being a successful martial artist, the skills that are taught are skills that can be cultivated and developed over time.

Martial arts teach patience and perseverance as well as goal setting. Learning MMA in this sort of school setting helps kids learn that hard work and dedication can bring about the desired results. Hard work is rewarded by having the student rise up to the next level, getting closer to his ultimate goal.

Mixed martial arts teaches kids not only to respect their teachers and their classmates, but it also teaches them to respect themselves. Having respect for themselves means that they will not do anything to impair themselves physically or mentally. It teaches them to respect their physical being as well as their emotional and intellectual being. Martial arts teaches children to approach things with a positive, can-do attitude all the while emphasizing that results come through hard work and discipline. MMA allow your child to both succeed and to fail, understanding that there are things to be learned from both outcomes.

Mixed martial arts teach children to be in control of their thoughts, emotions, and their bodies at all times. This does not promote fighting or any type of abusive or aggressive behavior. The emphasis of martial arts is defensive, not offensive. The goal of any MMA program is to teach the child to be in control of himself in whatever situation he finds himself.

After a child has been studying MMA for even a short period of time, parents will be able to notice a difference in their child. The child will have a greater attention span, he’ll be more respectful, and he’ll be more confident.

If you live in the Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC area, you can check out Lloyd Irvin’s, Mixed Martial Arts Academies. They offer a 30 day free trial program on any of the MMA programs.

For more details about how you can get your child to be an all rounder through the practice of Mixed Martial Arts visit: mtcmma.com. You can also enroll your child for one of the three 30 day free Mixed Martial Arts Training programs that will guarantee overall development.

Due to the rising popularity of mixed martial arts, martial art schools are appearing everywhere claiming to offer the best M.M.A training around. Schools that once taught Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, Karate, Sport Jiu-Jitsu and other traditional styles are now incorporating the term M.M.A in all their advertising, hoping to take advantage of the booming rise of reality fighting’s popularity.

The instructors at these types of school are usually very proficient in their respective style: Are they efficient at teaching the high quality, diverse M.M.A skills that you are in search of?

Finding a quality mixed martial arts school can prove very difficult for those who have no clue of what to look for. In this article I will discuss several ways to help you determine the quality of the martial art establishments you visit or call on the phone.

Step 1 – Ask them if they teach mixed martial arts

If the academy does not teach it, and have no intention of pretending to do so, they will usually be honest with their reply and will often point you in the direction of another school that better suits your needs.

Many other instructors, when asked will claim that they do teach M.M.A so that they will not lose you as a potential customer. This is not a lie entirely since the term mixed martial arts simply means mixing multiple martial arts together and they may indeed know techniques from different disciplines. You next mission is to find out the background, credentials and competitive/coaching history of the school’s instructors.

Step 2 – Search the names of the school owner / names of the instructor’s on the internet

Get on a computer as soon as you find out the name of the school owner, or the names of the various instructors that teach at that academy. You will be amazed at the amount of info you can find out about people by typing their names into the search engine at Google or some other search engine. You can usually dig up some info about the person’s competitive/coaching history and the various belt ranks or credentials earned by them in their combative discipline.

Step 3 – Find out precisely what styles of martial arts they teach

If you are looking for efficient well rounded mixed martial arts training you must find a school that teaches stand-up striking, ground work, and some form of takedown training. Many different martial art blends can be effective.

I suggest you look for a combination of authentic – the instructor has a recognized belt in BJJ — Brazilian jiu-jitsu training (with gi and no-gi classes), wrestling, boxing and kickboxing. Ideally, the different disciplines should be taught in separate classes to maximize your learning experience.

Step 4 – Ask to try a free class

Don’t be afraid to ask for a free lesson. Even schools that don’t advertise a free introductory class will usually give you one if you request it. Be wary of those that refuse. The free class will give you the opportunity to check out some important things: The school’s atmosphere, the way classes are structured, the teaching skill of the instructor, the enjoyment factor, and the talent of the other students in the class. This type of input will assist you in making your decision to join or not.

Step 5 – Repeat this process at all schools that offer mixed martial arts training in your area

Even if you are satisfied with the first school you check out, be sure to first visit the other M.M.A schools in the area to allow you a comparison between several different places. Also, do not always believe what one martial artist or school owner says about their competitors, as there is often some unwarranted bad-mouthing within the martial arts community. Everyone thinks their place is the best! Get out to all the schools, try your free class at each and make you own decision as to what’s the best place for you.

Step 6 – Ask about all the costs, not just tuition

When you’re ready to enroll in the school of your choice, ask about any additional fees in addition to tuition (testing fees, registration fees, organizational fees etc.). Also, you will probably have to purchase a uniform or some training gear.

Step 7 – You are now a beginning mixed martial artist, congrats!

You have found the ideal school for you and have begun your training in an activity that can offer you many things, fitness, improved confidence, real self-defense skills and plenty of enjoyment. Train smart, train hard, have fun, leave you ego at home and remember you have to be the nail before you can be the hammer. If you don’t know what that means you’ll find out soon.

One more thing, if right away, you’re easily hanging with the school’s top students while grappling or sparring, you’ve picked the wrong place to train.

Over the last three decades I’ve used many different training methods and strategies and have been fortunate to have trained under some of the best coaches in the world in a variety of martial arts disciplines. Fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was a dream come true for me and I look to help you achieve your personal MMA goals.